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| Delays in Tejas combat jet programme hurting IAF: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh | | | Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, Oct 3: The inordinate delays in the induction of Tejas combat aircraft are hurting the Indian Air Force (IAF) in view of the depleting strength of its fighter jet squadrons at a time when air power is becoming increasingly crucial to deal with security challenges, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference ahead of Air Force Day, the IAF chief also said that the force requires induction of at least 36-40 fighter jets annually for the next few years and hoped that the situation will improve with induction of indigenously-built Tejas Mark-1A aircraft as well as Rafale combat jets to be procured under the multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) programme.
Air Chief Marshal Singh said India is looking at finalising the MRFA deal by this financial year provided things go as per plan.
In its largest-ever defence acquisition push, India in February cleared a long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government framework with France, nearly two decades after the plan was originally rolled out to boost the Indian Air Force's combat prowess.
The price negotiations and other critical issues relating to the project are currently being finalised.
"I think if things go well, we should be able to sign it (MRFA deal) in this financial year. That's what my hope is. But it is a two-way process," he said while referring to negotiations between the Indian and the French sides.
The IAF chief also flagged concerns over delays in supply of Tejas Mark-1A jets to his force.
"It is going to hurt us," he said, responding to a question on huge delays in supplying the jets by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF. The first set of aircraft was to be delivered in March, 2024. However, not a single jet has been supplied to the IAF till now.
The IAF wants to induct the warplanes as the number of its fighter squadrons has gone down to 29 from the officially sanctioned strength of 42.
The defence ministry in September last year sealed another deal worth Rs 62,370 crore with HAL to procure 97 Tejas MK-1A light combat aircraft for the IAF. |
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